*Counting scores for Seneca:
Cooper Thorson 41
Cody Malak 44
Raiden Terry 45
Zander Newberry 46
Seneca scores:
Piper Stenzel 41
Cam Stecken 48
Brooklyn Szafranski 54
Haiden Lavarier 56
Vivienne Cronkrite 61
Josie Mitchell 61
“I spent time in different towns growing up because my dad was a basketball coach but we moved to Eureka in 4th grade and I graduated from Eureka High School. I continued my basketball career at Eureka College where I earned my degree in Math & Secondary Education. I also received my Master’s degree in Sport Management. I started coaching at Lexington and then went to El Paso-Gridley High School where I spent the last 16 years as head basketball coach.”
“My wife, Karmelle, is the school nurse at El-Paso Gridley Middle & High School. My oldest son, Micah (19), is a freshman at Illinois Wesleyan. He plans on majoring in Finance and is a member of the basketball team. Eliza (17) is a senior at El-Paso Gridley who is thinking of majoring in Special Education. Brier (11) is a 6th-grader who likes volleyball and Ander (8) is a 3rd-grader. Ander enjoys playing soccer and other sports.”
“I was inspired to go into education and coaching by my dad, Tim Meiss. Growing up around basketball, I was able to go in the gym whenever I wanted. I knew I liked working with kids and Dad always enjoyed it so I decided as a senior that I might try going down that path. My sister graduated with a degree in Sociology but went back to get her degree in Education. My brother is in Elementary Education so it just runs in the family.”
“Seneca has been great because everyone has been helpful and welcoming. I never felt like an outsider when I got here and it was nice getting a head start in the summer. Everyone has gone above and beyond and I couldn’t be happier with the way the transition is going.”
“In my first year I really want to get to know the kids, the faculty and staff. Eventually we’d like to move up here and I’d like to get to know the community better. It is going to be fun letting my younger two kids really be a part of it. I’m also really looking forward to basketball. I think it’s going to be a new challenge that I’m excited about. It’s been rejuvenating just getting to know a whole new group of kids with a blank slate and I look forward to seeing what we can build.”
#TheSenecaWay ☘️
Join us on September 23rd in the auditorium as some of SHS's finest brave the stage for the annual Mr. Irish Pageant! Doors open at 6:10 and the show starts at 6:30. It is $3 to get in or you can bring 3 non-perishable goods. It is a night you definitely WON'T want to miss! ☘️
Seneca Record: 14-3
Seneca scores:
Piper Stenzel 43
Cam Stecken 46
Vivienne Cronkrite 51
Haiden Lavarier 52
Josie Mitchell 52
Brooklyn Szafranski 54
Counting scores for Seneca:
Cooper Thorson 42
Raiden Terry/ Zander Newberry 43
Cody Malak 45
Seneca’s Grand Marshal Gave Students a Great START at SHS ☘️
There are no trophies in the trophy case, no career records on the leader boards, not even pictures of the accomplishments of this year’s Seneca High School Homecoming Grand Marshal, but SHS is extremely proud to announce that former SHS teacher, Cathy Bergstrom, has been given that title for 2025. Bergstrom initiated the ‘START’ program at Seneca High School in 1995 and coordinated the program until her retirement in 2014.
Mrs. Bergstrom is one of the many behind-the-scenes, unsung heroes that makes Seneca High School a special place. The public gets to see the many successes of the coaches, students, and organizations at SHS, but rarely are the teachers recognized who work with those who need it most. Cathy Bergstrom made the trophies, leaderboards, and photographs possible for nineteen years for many graduates of Seneca High School.
Mrs. Bergstrom's arrival at Seneca High School and even to the town of Seneca was not planned. Originally from Rockford and later Elwood, the desire to be closer to some members of her family drew her to this area, and her husband randomly came across Seneca and a lot for sale in 1992. They knew nothing about the village or even where Seneca High School was located.
Prior to arriving in Seneca, Cathy was a kindergarten, first, and second grade teacher in public and private schools until she began home schooling her own children. But then Seneca High School found her; and she found Seneca High School.
Seneca was creating a program for those students who needed extra help with organization, communication, and individual help with school assignments. The program was named Secondary Teacher Assisted Resource Time (START). School administration met Mrs. Bergstrom and convinced her to acquire her secondary teaching degree and develop the START program.
Mrs. Bergstrom’s task was to help vulnerable students navigate high school. However, Cathy didn’t just care that a student got adequate grades; she cared about every student as a person and gave each one every opportunity for success. She developed lifelong relationships with those students who benefited from her tireless efforts.
Bergstrom was highly respected by the faculty of SHS and was a huge asset to her colleagues at SHS as they depended on her to assist those students for whom they couldn’t provide the individual attention required for success. A former colleague commented that she admired her desire to learn as much as she could about a subject so she could in turn teach it to a student - and she had to do it for every subject.
In addition to coordinating the START program, Bergstrom has held the titles of National Honor Society Adviser, Assistant Speech Team Coach, Volunteer Cross Country Assistant Coach, Track Team Volunteer, and Scholastic Bowl Judge.
Cathy recently lost her husband, Denny, of almost 55 years. Cathy and Denny are the parents of two SHS Graduates: Annie (‘96) (Everett) of Tampa, Florida, and Peter (‘98) of Warrenton, Virginia. Her five grandchildren now garner the majority of Cathy’s genuine caring and giving personality.
Mrs. Bergstrom says she is honored and humbled to be selected as the Grand Marshal and that “there is nothing about Seneca High School that doesn’t bring me joy. I love the programs, people, and facilities.” She added that “the love that I feel from my former students is overwhelming.”
Mrs. Bergstrom will lead the homecoming parade down Main Street at 4:00 PM on Friday, September 26th, and then be recognized at halftime of the Homecoming football game that same evening as her beloved Fighting Irish take on Dwight.
Seneca 170
Dwight 185
Medalist: Cooper Thorson, Seneca 38
Seneca Record 7-4
Seneca:
Cooper Thorson 38
Cody Malak 40
Zander Newberry 45
Raiden Terry 47
Ethan Hasselbring 51
Vinny Corrado 51
Dwight:
Case Christensen 42
Cash Carter 47
Owen Vitko 48
Jack Statler 48
Caden Christensen 49
Blake Thetard 52
Counting Scores for Seneca:
Piper Stenzel 88 (9th place)
Camryn Stecken 89 (11th place)
Haiden Lavarier 95
Vivienne Cronkite 98
https://youtube.com/live/3RDtR2rsACc?feature=share
Attendants will be escorted in the Homecoming parade on Friday, September 26th @ 4:00 PM. They will then be announced at halftime of the football game that night, where we will also crown the King and Queen! On Saturday at the dance, there will be a Coronation of the Court at 8:30 PM.
Attendants:
1st Row -- Nathan McDonald (FR), Peyton Watkins (FR), Alise Jackson (SO), Breckin Anderson (SO)
2nd Row -- Raiden Terry (JR), Jessa Echeverria (JR), Zeb Maxwell (SR), Tessa Krull (SR), Liam Knoebel (SR), Ruthie Steffes (SR)
